Hyderabad: A woman agriculture officer in Andhra Pradesh died on Sunday four days after she set herself on fire alleging mental harassment by a legislator, said a minister.
B Rajeswari, 26, died of burns at a corporate hospital.
Minister for Small Industries D K Aruna said action would be taken as per law against those responsible for the woman's death. She said Rajeswari, a mandal agriculture officer in Devarkadra, named a legislator and two other people's representatives in her statement.
In her dying statement recorded before a magistrate, Rajeswari blamed Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislator Sita Dayakar Reddy and two district- and mandal-level public representatives.
Sita Dayakar Reddy represents Devarkadra assembly constituency in Mahbubnagar district.
After returning home from office on October 15, Rajeswari poured kerosene over herself and lit the match. She sustained 60 percent burns and was shifted to Hyderabad for treatment.
Rajeswari told her family members that she was killing herself as the legislator and two other public representatives were mentally harassing her.
Sita Dayakar Reddy, however, denied that she was harassing the official and clarified that she only wanted to know about the steps being taken to help farmers.
Minister Aruna visited the hospital and consoled the parents of Rajeswari. She also gave a financial assistance of Rs 30,000 to the family.
Police officers in Mahbubnagar said they would take action against the legislator after receiving the statement recorded before the magistrate.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has also demanded the immediate arrest of Sita Dayakar Reddy, who is also the president of the women's wing of TDP. CPI activists staged a road blockade in Mahbubnagar district, demanding the legislator's arrest and a compensation of Rs.1 million to the family of the deceased.
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